Light-rail hours longer for music fest

90-minute extension to assist late revelers catching later acts in Tempe

by Larry Rodgers - Mar. 21, 2009 12:00 AMThe Arizona Republic

For the third time since its launch late last year, the Valley's Metro light-rail system will extend its hours, this time to accommodate the Tempe Music Festival on April 3-4.

Trains will run until 12:30 a.m., 90 minutes later than normal, throughout the system to help festivalgoers get home after the headlining acts wrap up late in the evening.

Hours were extended on New Year's Eve and Feb. 13-15 for NBA All-Star Game festivities in Phoenix, according to Hillary Foose, public-information officer for the system.

"Special-events support is so key to Metro's operations and the success of the system," Foose said. "We are happy to see that our ridership is using us for that purpose."

Light-rail officials were immediately receptive to the idea of extended hours to accommodate the festival, which features such artists as Kid Rock, Three Doors Down, All American Rejects and Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, co-founder Ken Koziol said.

Five hundred light-rail passes will be handed out free to festivalgoers each night by the makers of Jose Cuervo tequila. That is part of a "get home safe" effort by the festival, which includes coupons for taxis and free non-alcoholic beverages for designated drivers, Koziol said. Organizers are expecting about 25,000 people to attend.

Foose said special events helped drive average Saturday ridership in February to 31,000, far above pre-launch projections of 20,800.

"Being a part of special events helps open people's minds to how using light rail saves hassles with finding parking and paying to park (near an event)," Foose said. "There is plenty of parking on the east and west ends of the line, and it is free."

Foose encouraged those attending large events to buy a $2.50 all-day pass when starting their trip to avoid crowds trying to purchase passes after an event has ended.